Trump's former political adviser told POLITICO in an exclusive interview that the president plans to talk a lot more about about the cost of living as we turn in the new year. read more
A new study shows how China overtakes the US in key areas of research and increasingly dominates the agenda. read more
Flock Safety -- the surveillance company behind the country's largest network of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) -- currently faces attacks on multiple fronts seeking to tear down the invasive and error-prone cameras across the US.
As home prices skyrocket and insurance premiums soar, the cost of living has some Floridians rethinking life in the Sunshine State. A new survey from Florida Atlantic University found nearly half of Floridians have considered leaving due to rising costs. About 45% say they're living paycheck to paycheck and no longer believe the American Dream -- especially homeownership -- is within reach.
Colorado voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday that will increase taxes for households making at least $300,000 annually to fully fund a program that provides free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 public school students. The average income tax increase for those affected is estimated to be $486. read more
Related ...
"I Don't Feel Safe": Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump's Police Task Force
www.propublica.org
... Reporting Highlights
Caught in a Wholesale Sweep: Trump's Memphis Safe Task Force promised to focus on violent criminals, but after being stopped for no apparent reason, some Memphians say they don't feel safe.
Pretextual Stops Return: Last year, the DOJ criticized Memphis police for using minor infractions as a pretext to search people for serious crimes. Under Trump's crackdown, it's happening again.
Intimidation and Harassment: A month of Trump's police task force operations in Memphis yielded over 1,700 arrests -- and resident concerns that they are being racially profiled and harassed. ...
It's A Beautiful Day - White Bird (1968)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
White bird in a golden cage
On a winter's day, in the rain
White bird in a golden cage
Alone
[Verse 2]
The leaves blow 'cross the long, black road
To the darkened sky in its rage
But the white bird just sits in her cage
Unknown
[Chorus]
White bird must fly, she will die
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
The white bird dreams of the Aspen tree
With her dying leaves turning gold
But the white bird just sits in her cage
Growing old
[Chorus]
White bird must fly or she will die
White bird must fly or she will die
[Bridge]
The sunsets come, the sunsets go
The clouds roll by, and the Earth turns slow
And a young bird's eyes do always glow
And she must fly
She must fly
She must fly
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 1]
White bird in a golden cage
On a winter's day, in the rain
White bird in a golden cage
Alone
[Chorus]
White bird must fly, she will die
White bird must fly or she will die
White bird must fly, she will die
[Outro]
White bird must fly
...
Yeah, they don't write lyrics like that anymore ...
John Hall - Plutonium Is Forever (1979)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Everybody's wondering if mankind is cursed
He's ruining the sky and the ocean even worse
But I'll predict the cause of his eradication from the earth
Oh, oh, oh, oh, plutonium is forever
Now, oil slicks someday will disappear
We'll stop dumping PCBs in a few years
But there is one pollutant that we should really fear
Oh, oh, oh, oh, plutonium is forever
But will it go away?
For our purposes, never
It will be here past today
Yes, plutonium is forever
Now, carbon monoxide can only steal your breath
Asbestos poisoning give the workers a horrible death
The aerosol and the Concorde make sure there's no ozone left
Now, some want the oil companies to have to face divestment
And some want the utility to be denied the rate adjustment
But now they're all after plutonium, they think it's such a good investment
Because oh, oh, oh, oh, plutonium is forever
Take it away!
...
@#1 ... Has Mamdani offered to pay their U-Haul fees, to get these racist cops to leave? ...
An interesting factoid, known locally but not nationally ...
Department composition - Place of residence
en.wikipedia.org
...
Place of residence
As a rule, NYPD officers can reside in New York City as well as Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Suffolk and Nassau counties and approximately half of them live outside the city (51% in 2020, up from 42% in 2016).[51][52] ...
So, the police officers seem to live in the Republican areas outside of the city they serve?
... There is no reason to risk your life serving when the mayor hates you and believes your department shouldn't even exist." ...
What NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's public safety agenda could mean for NYPD
www.police1.com
... With Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, now elected as New York City's next mayor, one of the biggest questions facing officers is how his leadership will affect the nation's largest police department.
Once an outspoken critic of the NYPD, the 34-year-old softened his tone during the campaign and pledged to keep Commissioner Jessica Tisch in place. His public safety platform differs from the approach taken under Mayor Eric Adams, proposing changes to how the department coordinates with City Hall.
Here's what his record and proposals indicate about what's ahead for the NYPD.
Mamdani says he'll keep Commissioner Jessica Tisch
Mamdani announced during an October debate that he intended to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. According to CNN, he made the announcement publicly before ever speaking to Tisch directly, telling the network, "I haven't had a private conversation with her on that."
Mamdani expressed confidence she would remain in the role: "I am confident that we will be working together," he said.
He has publicly credited Tisch with rooting out corruption within the NYPD and overseeing a decline in crime rates, according to CNN.
The Department of Community Safety
A central component of Mamdani's agenda is the creation of a Department of Community Safety (DCS) -- a new civilian agency with a proposed $1.1 billion budget, according to a plan released by his campaign. About $605 million would come from existing programs moved under the department and $455 million would be new funding, generated through efficiencies and reallocated resources.
Mamdani says the department's mission is to "prevent violence before it happens" by addressing root causes such as poverty, mental illness, housing instability and inequality. The DCS, he says, will take a public health approach to crime prevention, prioritizing "prevention-first, community-based solutions." ...
More from the article ...